Fastener

ABSTRACT

A fastening structure and method of making same is disclosed which comprises a fastening member having a base element and a plurality of hooking elements projecting from one surface of the base element and a snap fastening member having a base member and a holding means protruding centrally from one side of the base member for attaching the snap fastening member to a mounting plate, said fastening member and snap fastening member being secured together in melt-bonded relationship.

United States Patent 11 1 1111 3,916,703

Ribich et a1. Nov. 4, 1975 FASTENER 3,471,903 10/1969 Northrup 24/2043,575,370 4 1971 Morris 24/73 P [75] Inventors: Lexmgton; Davd 3,651,5453/1972 Hara 24 73 P Russgu, Ashland, both of Mass- 3,721,050 3/1973Perina 24/204 73 A ig American Velcro, Inc, New York 3,732,600 5/1973Penna 24/204 R FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS [22] Filed: May 9, 19741,465,708 12/1966 France 24/208 A [21] Appl 468502 PrimaryExaminer-Bernard A. Gelak Related US. Application Data Attorney, Agent,or FirmPennie & Edmonds [62] Division of Ser. No. 112,353, Feb 3, 1971,Pat. No.

3,851,357. [57] ABSTRACT A fastening structure and method of making sameis [52] US. Cl. 24/73 P; 24/204; 24/213 R Y 51 Int. C1 A44G 17/00dscbsed Whmh a fastenmg member havmg a base element and a plurality ofhooking elements [58] new at Search 113 208 73 projecting from onesurface of the base element and a snap fastening member having a basemember and a holding means protruding centrally from one side of [56]References Clted the base member for attaching the snap fastening UNITEDSTATES PATENTS member to a mounting plate, said fastening member3,015,869 1/1962 Rapata 24/213 R and snap fastening member being securedtogether in 3,031,730 5/1962 Morin 24/204 melt-bonded relationship,3,135,820 6/1964 Hallett 24/204 3,352,195 11/1967 Fisher 24/213 R 6Clams, 12 Drawing Flglll'es US. Patent Nov. 4, 1975 Sheet 1 of 33,916,703

SYNCHRONIZING MECHANISM U.S. Patent Nov. 4, 1975 Sheet20f3 I 3,916,703

. mm Nov. 4, 1975 Sheet 3 of3 FASTENER This is a division of applicationSer. No. 112,353, filed Feb. 3, 1971, now U.S. Pat. No. 3,851,357, datedDec. 3, 1974.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Separable fasteners such as the hook andloop fasteners described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,717,437 and 3,009,235 arewidely used for the purpose of attaching one object to another. Ingeneral, fasteners of this type include separable members each having apile like surface of hooking elements. Upon being pressed together inface-to-face relationship, the hooking elements of the separable membersreleasably interengage one another to hold the members together. In theabovementioned U.S. patents, each separable member comprises a sheet ofwoven synthetic material having raised loop threads wherein the loops ofone member are cut at their outer extremeties to form hook-type hookingelements while the loop threads of the other member remain uncut to formloop-type hooking elements. When these two members are pressed togetherin faceto-face relationship, there is substantial engagement of thehook-type hooking elements with the loop-type hooking elements. Aconsiderable effort must be applied to separate the members unless theyare peeled apart in which case the members are separated quite easily.

The number of applications in which separable fasteners of the typedescribed above can be advantageously utilized is legion. However, aproblem has long existed in industry because these flexible fasteningdevices are not readily adaptable in an assembly line operation, i.e.,they cannot be attached to a surface with ease in a short period of timeand they require special tools or procedures for assembly. For example,in numerous instances screws, nails or special adhesives are used toattach the fastening device to another surface. Furthermore, when any ofthese means are used to attach a fastening device, the device is notreadily removable. Applicants have avoided these problems, and numerousother problems associated with known fastening devices, by providing aflexible fastening device which is easily and quickly attached to asurface, and as a result of this the device is efficiently adaptable toan assembly line operation.

It is therefore the principal object of this invention to overcome thedisadvantages stated hereinabove by providing a fastening device whichprovides for fast attachment to a mounting plate without special tools,sufi'rcient strength to hold with respect to the mounting plate whensevere forces are applied to the device and which device is securely andtightly held with respect to the mounting plate, exhibitingsubstantially no freedom of movement when attached thereto. By providinga fastening device according to the present invention, we have overcomethe shortcomings and inadequacies of prior art fastening devices.

U.S. Pat. No. 3,135,820 describes a fastening device for linesmansrubber blankets which comprises a button member having attached theretohooking elements, the device being used for securing together opposingfolds of the blanket. This device, unlike the device of the presentinvention, requires great freedom of movement of the button with respectto the blanket surface. Furthermore, the device is not designed to snapinto an opening, but rather functions as a button which is inserted intoa button hole. This type of attachment is clumsy and further emphasizesthe great freedom of movement between the fastening member and theblanket. Related fastening devices are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos.2,497,305, 2,538,396, 2,969,570, 3,031,730 and 3,179,969.

Various spin welding techniques for attaching two or more surfacestogether are illustrated in U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,942,748, 3,244,574,3,245,858, 3,338,775, 3,344,010, 3,385,741, 3,438,825, 3,444,018,3,446,688, and 3,468,732.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In accordance with the teachings of the presentinvention, there is provided a fastening device which includes afastening member having a base element and a plurality of flexibleresilient hooking elements projecting from one surface of the baseelement which are adapted to be secured to a surface havingcomplementary hooking elements by pressing opposed hooking elements andcomplementary hooking elements together in face-to-face relation. Thedevice includes at least one snap fastening member having a base memberand holding means protruding from one surface of the base member. Theholding means are provided for snapping into locking engagement in anopening in a mounting plate and gripping the mounting plate in order tosecurely attach the snap fastening member to the mounting plate. Theholding means are characterized by the property that applying forces toseparate the hooking elements from the complementary hooking elementswill increase the gripping action of the holding means in the openingand thus, further resist separation of the fastening member from themounting plate, the base member being in contiguous relation with themounting plate when the snap fastening member is attached to themounting plate.

The holding means includes gripping members which are configured todeform inwardly when pressed into and through the opening in themounting plate and then expand to their normal position when snappedthrough the opening in the plate. When in this normal position, themaximum dimension across the gripping members measured parallel to thebase member is greater than the maximum lengthwise dimension measuredacross the opening in the mounting plate so that the fastening devicecannot fall out of the opening in the mounting plate.

Either the fastening member or snap fastening member or both is made ofmeltable material and these members are joined together in integralmelt-bonded relationship at an interface therebetween which is definedby contacting portions of the surface of the base element opposite tothe surface thereof from which the hooking elements project and thesurface of the base member opposite to the surface thereof from whichthe holding means protrudes.

The fastening member defines one member of a two member separablefastener the other member of which includes a plurality of complementaryhooking elements which are releasably interengagable with hookingelements of the fastening device of this invention. When the fasteningdevice of this invention is attached to a mounting plate by means of theprotruding holding means of the snap fastening member, another object towhich the fastening member having the complementary hooking elements isattached may be secured to the mounting plate simply by pressing therespective hooking elements together in face-to-face relationship.

The subject matter of this invention also includes a method forproducing the fastening device described above. This method involvesincrementally advancing the fastening member of the structure, in tapeform, along a longitudinal path and placing a snap fastening member ontothe fastening tape with the surface of the base member opposite to thesurface thereof from which the holding means protrudes and the surfaceof the base element opposite to the surface thereof from which thehooking elements project in contacting relation. The snap fasteningmember is then spun at a high speed and under pressure against thefastening tape to create frictional heat and produce a film of moltenmaterial between the fastening member and snap fastening member at theplaces where they contact each other. Thereafter, the spinning of thesnap fastening member is terminated thus allowing the molten material tocool and set, thus fusing the fastening member and snap fastening memberin integral melt-bonded relationship.

As stated, either the fastening member or snap fastening member or bothcan be made of a meltable material. Preferably, the meltable material isa plastic material. However, the material is by no means limited toplastic 'and can include any meltable material, such as metal.

In addition, the fastening member and snap fastening member can bejoined together by using a heatsensitive adhesive located between thefastening member and snap fastening member where they are joinedtogether. The spin welding technique mentioned above can be used toactivate the heat-sensitive adhesive and thus join the two partstogether. By using a heatsensitive adhesive in this manner, either thefastening member or snap fastening member or both can be made ofmaterials other than the plastic or metal materials mentioned above.

The term contiguous as used in the present specification includes withinits meaning, two objects which are adjacent and close to one another butnot touching, two objects which are in contact with one another but notalong their entire boundaries, and also two objects which are in contactwith one another along their entire boundaries. Thus, in the presentinvention it is intended that when the holding means is snapped into theopening in the mounting plate, the snap fastening member can be adjacentto but not in contact with the mounting plate, partially in contact withthe mounting plate, or in complete contact with the mounting plate alongthe entire length of their adjoining boundaries. In referring to theholding means securing the snap fastening member to the mounting plateand snapping into locking engagement it is intended to mean that oncethe holding means are snapped into an opening in a mounting plate, thesnap fastening member is tightly held to the mounting plate and exhibitssubstantially no movement when a force is applied thereto, i.e., thereis substantially no movement of the snap fastening member along a planelying along the axis of the holding means and substantially no movementof the snap fastening member along a plane lying perpendicular to theaxis of the holding means.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a schematic illustration ofsuitable apparatus which may be used to practice the method of thepresent invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a fastening device which may be producedaccording to this invention.

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of a snap fastening member of a fasteningdevice of this invention.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the snap fastening member takenalong the lines 44 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a bottom plan view of a snap fastening member of a fasteningdevice of this invention.

FIG. 6 is a partial cross-sectional view of a fastening device of thisinvention taken along the lines 66 of FIG. 5 showing the melt bondbetween the fastening member and snap fastening member.

FIGS. 7 to 9 are cross-sectional views of the fastening device andmounting plate to which the fastening device is adapted to be attachedshowing progressive stages of the attachment procedure.

FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view showing one manner in which thefastening device of FIG. 2 is intended to be used.

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of another fastening device which may beproduced according to this invention.

FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view showing one manner in which thefastening device of FIG. 11 is intended to be used.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS With reference to FIG. 1,production of a fastening device of the present invention involves theuse of a fastening member 11 in tape form and a snap-in snap fasteningmember 12 each of which is, according to the preferred embodiment, madeof similar thermoplastic material, as for example, nylon. The fasteningtape 11 comprises a base element 13 one surface of which includes aplurality of upstanding flexible resilient hooking elements 14. Thehooking elements shown in the drawings comprise hook-type hookingelements, however, other hooking elements such as loop-type hookingelements may also be used. The function of the hooking elements will bedescribed more fully below.

The snap fastening member comprises, for example, a base member 15 andholding means, indicated generally by reference numeral 16, protrudingfrom the center portion of one surface of the base member for securingthe snap fastening member to a mounting plate, as will become abundantlyclear below where the structure of the snap fastening member 12 will bedescribed in more detail.

The fastening tape 11 is advanced along a longitudinal path in thedirection of arrows 17 with the surface opposite to the surface fromwhich the hooking elements project facing upward. For this purpose atape feeding mechanism, indicated diagrammatically by reference numeral18 is provided. The tape feeding mechanism grips the fastening tapemember 11 and incrementally advances it underneath a hopper l9 filledwith snap fasteners 12. This hopper is part of an automatic buttonfeeding mechanism indicated diagrammatically by reference numeral 19.The snap fastener feeding mechanism is synchronized with the tapefeeding mechanism 18 and operates to dispense a single snap fastener 12onto the fastening tape member 11 each time it is incrementally advancedby the tape feeding mechanism. Thus, as shown, the fastening tape 11,after passing through the snap fastener feeding mechanism, carries aseries of snap fasteners situated at spaced intervals along thefastening tape with the surface of base member 15 opposite to thesurface thereof from which the holding means protrudes and the upwardly'facing side of the fastening tape member in contacting relationship withrespect to each other.

As the fastening tape continues to be advanced in the manner described,each snap fastener 12 is moved to a position where it is subjected tothe action of a spin welding mechanism, indicated diagrammatically byreference numeral 20. The spin welding mechanism, which is alsosynchronized with the tape and snap fastener feeding mechanisms,operates to engage the snap fastener and spin it at high speed againstthe fastening tape member. Simultaneously, with this spinning of thesnap fastener 12, the spin welding mechanism operates to press the snapfastener 12 and fastening tape member 11 together. The 'rtsultingfriction between the spinning snap fastener 12 and fastening tape membercreates heat sufficient to melt the plastic material of the snapfastener and fastening tape member at the places where the snap fastenerand fastening tape member contact each other. After a sufficient film ofmolten plastic material has been formed, the spinning of the snapfastener 12 is terminated and, while the snap fastener and fasteningtape member remain pressed together, the molten plastic is allowed tocool and set thus fusing the snap fastener 12 and fastening tape member11 together as an integral welded unit.

Eventually the fastening tape member with the integrally welded snapfasteners is moved into a position where a cutting mechanism, indicatedgenerally by reference numeral 21, operates to cut away the excessfastening tape around the periphery of the base member to produceindividual fastening devices, for example, as illustrated in FIG. 2.These fastening devices are then dropped into a suitable collector. Itwill be recognized that a useful composite fastening device comprising alength of fastening tape 11 and a series of snap fasteners 12 disposedin integral melt-bonded relationship thereto at selected intervals alongthe tape length can also be produced simply by cutting the fasteningtape member into suitable lengths rather than into individual fasteningdevices as presently preferred.

The structure of a preferred embodiment for a snap fastening member isbest illustrated in FIGS. 3 to 5 where it will be seen that the surfaceof base member 15 which is melt bonded to the fastening tape by theprocess described above is formed with a series of spaced concentricridges or ribs 22a, 22b and 22c. Ridge 22a, as shown, extends along theperipheral edge of base member 15 and ridge 220 is located centrally ofthe base member 15 to closely encircle the circular center portion ofthe base member which supports the holding means to which reference, inmore detail, will be made below. Ridge 22b located between ridges 22aand 220 but closer to peripheral ridge 22a than center ridge 22c.

These ridges are the areas of the snap fastening member which meltduring the spin welding operation and insure that an adequate bond isobtained between the fastening member and snap fastening member withoutany distortion. As shown in FIG. 6, the melt bond between the snapfastener 12 and fastening tape member 11 is, with this construction,formed along concentric bands coinciding with the position of concentricridges 22a, 22b, 220 on base member 15. Here, it will be seen thatridges, indicated in their premelted condition by dotted lines 22a, 22band 220, and the portions of the fastening tape member 11 which contactthese ridges have been melted and fused together to form an integralunitary structure.

Referring again to the preferred embodiment shown in FIGS. 3 to 5, itwill be seen that the surface of the base member 15 opposite to thesurface which carries ridges 22a, 22b and 22c is formed with an annularring of teeth 23 also encircling the circular center portion of the basemember which supports the holding means. These teeth are adapted to beengaged by the spin welding mechanism for the purpose of centering thesnap fastening member and spinning the snap fastener relative to thefastening tape in the manner described above in connection with FIG. 1.However, the use of an annular ring of teeth for centering the snapfastening member during the spin welding operation is an example of onlyone of the numerous methods for performing this function.

The holding means of the snap fastening member in one preferredembodiment comprises a pair of upstanding gripping members 25 which areresiliently mounted in diametrically spaced relationship on the side ofthe base member opposite to the side carrying the ridges 22a, 22b, 22cwithin the annular ring of teeth 23. For purposes of mounting eachgripping member 25 in this manner, the circular center portion of basemember 15 which is bordered by the annular ring of teeth 23 is providedwith a generally H-shaped slot 26 which defines two resilientcantilevered mounting platforms 27 which are integrally connected tobase member 15. As shown, the gripping members are mounted closelyadjacent the free ends of mounting platforms 27 and a relief slot 28 isformed in the platforms to provide them with increased flexibility andfacilitate the molding process.

The outer remote sides of the gripping members 25 are preferably formedwith outwardly projecting retaining ears 29 and outwardly and downwardlysloping cam surfaces 30 positioned above the retaining ears. The opposedinner sides of the gripping members 25 are formed with upwardly andoutwardly inclined flat surfaces 31. Thus, each gripping member has agenerally tapering cross-sectional configuration which is wider at thebase portion than at the terminal end to allow for easy insertion intoan opening in a mounting plate.

As mentioned above, the snap fastening member 12 is adapted to besnapped into locking engagement with a mounting plate. The manner inwhich this is accomplished will now be described in connection withFIGS. 7 to 9. The snap fastening member 12 is first placed in theposition shown in FIG. 7 with the gripping members extending partly intoa hole 32 drilled or punched in the mounting plate 33. From thisposition pressure is applied to the snap fastening member in a directiontoward the mounting plate thus causing the cam surfaces 30 of thegripping members 25 to cam against the edge of the hole 32 which, inturn, causes the gripping members to move toward each other in arcuatepaths from their initial position shown in FIG. 7 into the positionsshown in FIG. 8. This movement of the gripping members is due entirelyto flexure of spring deflection of the respective mounting platforms 27since the gripping members are rigid and this rigidity is maintainedduring insertion into the hole. When the retaining ears 29 of thegripping members have cleared the rear surface 34 of the mounting plate33, the gripping members snap back to their initial position capturingthe mounting plate between the ears 29 and base member 15 to therebylock the snap fastening member in place. This final locked position ofsnap fastener 12 and mounting plate 33 is shown in FIG. 9.

Not only is the snap fastening member locked firmly in place, but anyattempt to remove it by applying pulling or prying forces to the basemember 15 will result in a tightening effect as such pulling or pryingforces serve only to force the gripping members further apart therebyincreasing the strength of the connection. The snap fastener 12, may ofcourse, be easily removed from the mounting plate simply by squeezingthe gripping members together from the rear and pushing the snapfastening member back through the hole in the mounting plate.

FIG. 10 illustrates one manner in which the fastening device shown inFIG. 2 can be used. As shown, the fastening device has been snapped intoa hole 32 in mounting plate 33 which may form part of a largerstructure. Object 35 has attached thereto a complementary fasteningmember 36 which has a pile surface of complementary hooking elements 37releasably interengageable with hooking elements 14. Upon moving object35 toward the mounting plate 33 and pressing the hooking elements andcomplementary hooking elements in face-to-face relationship, a largernumber of hooking elements will interengage with a large number ofcomplementary hooking elements to thereby hold object 35 firmly in placeon the mounting plate 33.

The structure of a second preferred embodiment for a snap fasteningmember is illustrated by the fastening device in FIG. 11. In thisembodiment, the holding means of the snap fastening member comprises apair of gripping members 40 which are resiliently mounted indiametrically spaced relationship on opposite sides of tubular member41. As shown, the gripping members 40 extend in a directionsubstantially parallel to the axis of the tubular member. The outersides of the gripping members are formed of tapered surfaces 42 whichallows for easy insertion into an opening in a mounting plate.

FIG. 12 illustrates one manner in which the fastening device shown inFIG. 11 can be used. As shown, the fastening device has been snappedinto a hole 32 in a mounting plate 33 which may form part of a largerstructure. Object 35 has attached thereto a complementary fasteningmember 36 which has a pile surface of complementary hooking elements 37releasably interengageable with hooking elements 14. Upon moving object35 toward the mounting plate 33 and pressing the hooking elements andcomplementary hooking elements in face-to-face relationship, a largenumber of hooking elements will interengage with a large number ofcomplementary hooking elements to thereby hold object 35 firmly in placeon the mounting plate 33.

In the presently preferred embodiments of this invention, the hook-typehooking elements 14 and base element 13 of the fastening member 11 aremolded of thermoplastic material as an integral unit. A suitable moldedfastening member of this type is the one described in co-pendingcommonly assigned U.S. patent application Ser. No. 824,597, filed May14, 1969 now abandoned in favor of continuation application Ser. No.203,878, filed Dec. 1, 1971, now U.S. Pat. No. 3,758,657. A divisionalapplication of U.S. application Ser. No. 824,597 which was filed on Nov.11, 1971, under Ser. No. 198,002 resulted in the issuance of U.S. Pat.No. 3,752,619 dated Aug. 14, 1973. A second divisional application ofU.S. Ser. No. 824,597 was filed under Ser. No. 198,003 on Nov. 11, 1971and issued as U.S. Pat. No. 3,762,000 dated Oct. 2, 1973. Thecomplementary hooking elements 37 comprise loop-type hooking elements ofthe type described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,009,235. Hook and loop typehooking elements of this nature are characterized in that when they arepressed into face-to-face relation a larger number of the hook-typehooking elements and a large number of loop-type hooking elements becomeinterengaged with each other. Separation of the hook and loop typehooking elements is strongly resisted when various forces are applied,for example, forces parallel to the interfacial plane of engagement butseparation is quite readily effected by peeling forces appliedsubstantially normal to the interfacial plane of engagement. For a morecomplete description of these hook and loop-type hooking elements,reference is made to the abovementioned U.S. patent and patentapplication.

Alternatively, the fastening tape member 11 may comprise a woven orknitted thermoplastic material. Suitable woven thermoplastic materialsare the ones described in U.S. Pat. No. 2,717,437 to which reference hasbeen previously made; and a suitable knitted thermoplastic material isdescribed in commonly assigned copending U.S. patent application Ser.No. 659,668, filed Aug. 10, 1967. Moreover, it will be understood thatwhile the fastening tape member 11 and snap fastening member 12 of thefastening structure are preferably made of similar thermoplasticmaterial, they can also be made of dissimilar thermoplastic materialsor, if desired, one may be made of material other than plastic such asmetal. For instance, the snap fastening member 12 may comprise ametallic construction or the fastening tape member may comprise metallicmaterial, as for example, the woven metallic material described in U.S.Pat. No. 3,461,513. In the event either the fastening tape member 11 orthe snap fastening 12 is made of metallic material, the molten plasticmaterial of the other member will flow into the proclivities anddeclivities (surface irregularities) of the metal and upon setting willadhere to the metallic surface to produce a strong melt-bonded joint atthe interface. For instance, with a woven metallic fastening tape memberand thermoplastic snap fastening member, the molten plastic of thelatter will flow into the interstices between the metallic wrap and weftyarns of the base ele ment to form this melt bond.

We claim:

1. A fastening device adapted to be securely attached to a mountingplate defining an opening, said fastening device comprising:

a. a fastening member including:

1. a flexible base element; and

2. a multiplicity of flexible resilient hooking elements projecting fromone surface of the base element and adapted to be secured to a surfacehaving complementary hooking elements by pressing opposed hookingelements and complementary hooking elements together in face-tofacerelation; and

b. at least one snap fastening member securely affixed to said fasteningmember and including:

1. a flexible base member joined integrally to the other surface of saidbase element; and

2. holding means including (i) a tubular member mounted to the basemember and extending from one surface thereof; and (ii) at least twospaced rigid gripping members mounted to said tubular member forresilient movement toward and away from each other upon flexing of atleast a portion of said flexible base member out of its normal plane,said gripping members being adapted for snapping into locking engagementin the opening in the mounting plate to secure the snap fastener memberin contiguous relation with the mounting plate, said holding meanscharacterized by the property that applying peeling forces to separatethe hooking elements from the complementary hooking elements will flexat least a portion of the base member and the fastening member out oftheir normal planes and increase the separation between the grippingmembers to thereby increase the gripping action of the holding means insaid opening and further resist separation of the fastening member fromthe mounting plate to retain said base member in contiguous relationwith the mounting plate.

2. The fastening device according to claim 1 wherein:

a. at least one of said fastening member and snap fastening member ismade of a meltable material; and

b. said fastening member and each snap fastening member is joinedtogether in integral melt bonded relation at an interface therebetweendefined by contacting portions of the surface of the base elementsopposite to the surface thereof from which the hooking elements projectand the surface of the base member opposite to the surface thereof fromwhich the holding means protrudes.

3. The fastening device according to claim 2 wherein the grippingmembers extend in a direction substantially parallel to the axis of saidtubular member and are located on opposite sides thereof.

4. A fastening device adapted to be securely attached to a mountingplate defining an opening comprising:

a. a fastening member including:

1. a flexible base member; and 2. a multiplicity of flexible resilienthooking elements projecting from one surface of the base element andadapted to be secured to a surface having complementary hooking elementsby pressing opposed hooking elements and complementary hooking elementstogether in face-toface relation; and b. at least one snap fasteningmember including:

1. a flexible base member joined integrally to the other surface of saidbase element; and

2. holding means comprising (i) a tubular member mounted to the basemember and extending from one surface thereof; (ii) at least two spacedrigid gripping members mounted to said tubular member for resilientmovement toward and away from each other upon flexing of at least aportion 7 of said base member out of its normal plate, and (iii) aretaining ear positioned on the free end of each gripping member, saidretaining ears being spaced apart and adapted for snapping into lockingengagement in the opening of the mounting plate and grip the mountingplate to secure the snap fastener member in contiguous relation with themounting plate, said holding means characterized by the property thatapplying peeling forces to separate the hooking elements from thecomplementary hooking elements will flex at least a portion of the basemember and the fastening member out of their normal planes and increasethe separation between the gripping members and the retaining members tothereby increase the gripping action of the retaining ears in saidopening and further resist separation of the fastening member from themounting plate to re tain said base member in contiguous relation withthe mounting plate. 5. The fastening device according to claim 4wherein: a. at least one of said fastening member and snap fasteningmember is made of a meltable material; and b. said fastening member andeach snap fastening member is joined together in integral melt bondedrelation at an interface therebetween defined by contacting portions ofthe surface of the base elements opposite to the surface thereof fromwhich the hooking elements project and the surface of the base memberopposite to the surface thereof from which the holding means protrudes.6. A fastening device according to claim 5 wherein the gripping membersextend in a direction substantially parallel to the axis of said tubularmember and are located on opposite sides thereof.

1. A fastening device adapted to be securely attached to a mountingplate defining an opening, said fastening device comprising: a. afastening member including:
 1. a flexible base element; and
 2. amultiplicity of flexible resilient hooking elements projecting from onesurface of the base element and adapted to be secured to a surfacehaving complementary hooking elements by pressing opposed hookingelements and complementary hooking elements together in face-to-facerelation; and b. at least one snap fastening member securely affixed tosaid fastening member and including:
 1. a flexible base member joinedintegrally to the other surface of said base element; and
 2. holdingmeans including (i) a tubular member mounted to the base member andextending from one surface thereof; and (ii) at least two spaced rigidgripping members mounted to said tubular member for resilient movementtoward and away from each other upon flexing of at least a portion ofsaid flexible base member out of its normal plane, said gripping membersbeing adapted for snapping into locking engagement in the opening in themounting plate to secure the snap fastener member in contiguous relationwith the mounting plate, said holding means characterized by theproperty that applying peeling forces to separate the hooking elementsfrom the complementary hooking elements will flex at least a portion ofthe base member and the fastening member out of their normal planes andincrease the separation between the gripping members to thereby increasethe gripping action of the holding means in said opening and furtherresist separation of the fastening member from the mounting plate toretain said base member in contiguous relation with the mounting plate.2. a multiplicity of flexible resilient hooking elements projecting fromone surface of the base element and adapted to be secured to a surfacehaving complementary hooking elements by pressing opposed hookingelements and complementary hooking elements together in face-to-facerelation; and b. at least one snap fastening member securely affixed tosaid fastening member and including:
 2. holding means including (i) atubular member mounted to the base member and extending from one surfacethereof; and (ii) at least two spaced rigid gripping members mounted tosaid tubular member for resilient movement toward and away from eachother upon flexing of at least a portion of said flexible base memberout of its normal plane, said gripping members being adapted forsnapping into locking engagement in the opening in the mounting plate tosecure the snap fastener member in contiguous relation with the mountingplate, said holding means characterized by the property that applyingpeeling forces to separate the hooking elements from the complementaryhooking elements will flex at least a portion of the base member and thefastening member out of their normal planes and increase the separationbetween the gripping members to thereby increase the gripping action ofthe holding means in said opening and further resist separation of thefastening member from the mounting plate to retain said base member incontiguous relation with the mounting plate.
 2. holding means comprising(i) a tubular member mounted to the base member and extending from onesurface thereof; (ii) at least two spaced rigid gripping members mountedto said tubular member for resilient movement toward and away from eachother upon flexing of at least a portion of said base member out of itsnormal plate, and (iii) a retaining ear positioned on the free end ofeach gripping member, said retaining ears being spaced apart and adaptedfor snapping into locking engagement in the opening of the mountingplate and grip the mounting plate to secure the snap fastener member incontiguous relation with the mounting plate, said holding meanscharacterized by the property that applying peeling forces to separatethe hooking elements from the complemEntary hooking elements will flexat least a portion of the base member and the fastening member out oftheir normal planes and increase the separation between the grippingmembers and the retaining members to thereby increase the grippingaction of the retaining ears in said opening and further resistseparation of the fastening member from the mounting plate to retainsaid base member in contiguous relation with the mounting plate.
 2. amultiplicity of flexible resilient hooking elements projecting from onesurface of the base element and adapted to be secured to a surfacehaving complementary hooking elements by pressing opposed hookingelements and complementary hooking elements together in face-to-facerelation; and b. at least one snap fastening member including:
 2. Thefastening device according to claim 1 wherein: a. at least one of saidfastening member and snap fastening member is made of a meltablematerial; and b. said fastening member and each snap fastening member isjoined together in integral melt bonded relation at an interfacetherebetween defined by contacting portions of the surface of the baseelements opposite to the surface thereof from which the hooking elementsproject and the surface of the base member opposite to the surfacethereof from which the holding means protrudes.
 3. The fastening deviceaccording to claim 2 wherein the gripping members extend in a directionsubstantially parallel to the axis of said tubular member and arelocated on opposite sides thereof.
 4. A fastening device adapted to besecurely attached to a mounting plate defining an opening comprising: a.a fastening member including:
 5. The fastening device according to claim4 wherein: a. at least one of said fastening member and snap fasteningmember is made of a meltable material; and b. said fastening member andeach snap fastening member is joined together in integral melt bondedrelation at an interface therebetween defined by contacting portions ofthe surface of the base elements opposite to the surface thereof fromwhich the hooking elements project and the surface of the base memberopposite to the surface thereof from which the holding means protrudes.6. A fastening device according to claim 5 wherein the gripping membersextend in a direction substantially parallel to the axis of said tubularmember and are located on opposite sides thereof.